Congenital shortening of left lower limb

This code signifies a birth defect where the left lower extremity is abnormally shorter than the right, due to a developmental anomaly. This shortening can impact gait, posture, and overall mobility, often requiring orthopedic intervention.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a congenital shortening of the left lower limb. This typically arises from conditions like fibular hemimelia, congenital femoral deficiency, or other skeletal dysplasias affecting the left leg from birth. Supporting documentation includes physician notes detailing the congenital nature and laterality.

• Ensure documentation specifies "congenital" and "left lower limb" to differentiate from acquired shortening or other limbs.
• Do not confuse with acquired limb length discrepancy, which would be coded differently (e.g., M21.7-).
• Code any associated congenital anomalies or underlying syndromes separately.